Recently by Helen Hwang

For woolly fun, dance and laughs, Shaun the Sheep show comes to the Theatre Royal, starting today and runs throughout the weekend. From the animators of Wallace and Grommit, Shaun the Sheep moves from television screen to stage in an entertaining family show.

After more than a decade of MAMMA MIA! being well-known in popular vernacular - first as a West End show and then as an abominable though surprisingly popular film starring Meryl Streep and Colin Firth - the ABBA-based cultural phenomenon is meant to be no more than good fun and light entertainment. Even when ABBA made their breakout debut on Eurovision in platform boots and skin-tight Lycra, the performers didn't really seem to take themselves too seriously. Hence, the musical MAMMA MIA! is not intended as high art.

The singing of Sara Poyzer, who plays Donna, is marvelous. The women who play her best friends and the back-up cast are star. Charlotte Wakefield as Sophie was a little uneven in her singing to begin with but warmed up to her potential to give riveting performances, in the matinee performance I saw. Richard Standing, who happens to be Sara Poyzer's real-life husband, plays Sam. The men in her life seem to be cast as types rather than for their vocal chords.

I caught the MAMMA MIA! show at the West End several years ago and don't recall the show having so much swearing and lewd gestures. Though billed as a family show, I found myself a bit squeamish as there were loads of children in the audience at the Sunday matinee show. I'm not sure if the show has undergone a few alterations to push the limits in engaging the audience in scintillating, even gratuitous, behavior that doesn't add to the show's entertainment value.

Overall, MAMMA MIA! is a decent show offering fun entertainment for two-and-a-half hours. It's an amusing diversion to whittle away a few hours with catchy music, nostalgic disco dancing and low-brow comedy.

The musical Mamma Mia! has become synonymous with the beloved ABBA. And just as we never tire of hearing ABBA, we won't ever tire of the plot in Mamma Mia!. Who doesn't have a love that got away?! In its sixth year of touring, Mamma Mia! smashed all sorts of records at the SECC last time it visited. No doubt Mamma Mia! will be loads of fun with unbeatable music that begs for the audience to start dancing away.

For the first time in the musical's history, real-life couple chemistry will be transplanted to the stage as Sara Poyzer plays the role of Donna while her husband Richard Standing takes on the role of Sam.

And as the cast sings "And when I called you last night from Glasgow ..." from "Super Trouper", ABBA's call out to the home crowd will surely be electrifying.

Everyone will become a Dancing Queen when Mamma Mia !hits the SECC stage!

With music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson and directed by Phyllida Lloyd.

Mamma Mia runs from 5 March 2011 to 3 April 2011 at the SECC - Clyde Auditorium. Tickets, priced from £15 to £39.50, are available from www.ticketSOUP.com® or telephone 0844 395 4000.

Cirque de Glace at the Theatre Royal

Imagine the thrilling acrobatics of Cirque du Soleil with performers somersaulting from the ceiling, and then add razor-sharp blades to the nimble feet of the entertainers. That's what Cirque de Glace promises in its death-defying ice show, playing this week at the Theatre Royal.

The combination acrobatic and ice dancing spectacular is centred on the story of how Earth came about, hence the name of the show "Evolution." Using the dramatic effects of ice, live fire spewing out of a volcano, and, skaters shooting around a small rink at breakneck speed, the Russian Ice Stars will leave audience members gasping for breath, or at least sighing in relief that no one gets their head sliced off with a skate blade.

Plus, Svetlana Murzak, the Guinness record holder for most cloud swing rotations, is in the cast. According to Circopedia.org, cloud swings are the ancestor of the trapeze, where a slack rope hanging on both ends is used for aerial rotations.

The elements are all there - ice, fire, air, and earth - to tell a story that'll make a lasting impression on all your senses.

Cirque de Glace

Tue 5 - Sat 9 Oct
Tue - Sat eves 7.30pm
Thu & Sat mats @ 2.30pm
Tickets: £10 - £25
Box Office: 08448 717 647 (bkg fee)

Cirque de Glace at the Theatre Royal

Imagine the thrilling acrobatics of Cirque du Soleil with performers somersaulting from the ceiling, and then add razor-sharp blades to the nimble feet of the entertainers. That's what Cirque de Glace promises in its death-defying ice show, playing this week at the Theatre Royal.

The combination acrobatic and ice dancing spectacular is centred on the story of how Earth came about, hence the name of the show "Evolution." Using the dramatic effects of ice, live fire spewing out of a volcano, and, skaters shooting around a small rink at breakneck speed, the Russian Ice Stars will leave audience members gasping for breath, or at least sighing in relief that no one gets their head sliced off with a skate blade.

Plus, Svetlana Murzak, the Guinness record holder for most cloud swing rotations, is in the cast. According to Circopedia.org, cloud swings are the ancestor of the trapeze, where a slack rope hanging on both ends is used for aerial rotations.

The elements are all there - ice, fire, air, and earth - to tell a story that'll make a lasting impression on all your senses.

Cirque de Glace

Tue 5 - Sat 9 Oct
Tue - Sat eves 7.30pm
Thu & Sat mats @ 2.30pm
Tickets: £10 - £25
Box Office: 08448 717 647 (bkg fee)

Or will it be the Pinky Ponk?!

This is the last week to catch "In the Night Garden Live" at the Glasgow Green. Set in white purpose-built inflatable domes, the shows transforms the beloved BBC children's programme into a magical reality for kids. Using puppetry, projected film images, and adored life-size characters like Igglepiggle and Upsy Daisy, children will feel immersed in the exquisitely wonderful setting where Makka Pakka and Tombliboos are up to antics that young kids find hilarious.

Glasgow is one of only four cities the show is stopping in. There are five scheduled shows a day with a choice of two completely different themes to choose from. Families can choose the Ninky Nonk or Pinky Ponk show. Up to 500 people can be seated in the enclosed dome, where even the rainy weather can't damper the spirits of the young theatregoers.

"It's meant to be an immersive experience. The television show is quite iconic and the show is meant to carry the magic over into the theatre," said Cameron Duncan, the show's publicist.

There's even a buggy park, nappy change area, and microwaves to heat up baby food, to help foster the most pleasant experience for families. The shows are about 60 minutes long with no intervals.

Director Will Tuckett explains that children are used to seeing their beloved characters on television and the live show "unlocks your imagination and [the programme] comes to life right there in front of you."

TICKET INFORMATION:

Runs through Sunday 26 September, Glasgow Green, GLASGOW G40 1AT
Performance times: 9.30, 11.15 a.m., 2.00, 3.45 & 5.30 p.m.
Tickets: £5 - £20
Running time: approx. 60 minutes
To book tickets visit www.nightgardenlive.com or call 0844 581 1251

This Saturday, a unique stylish boutique market hits The Lighthouse with an assortment of one-of-a-kind wares, ranging from jewellery, 1950s dresses, urban guerrilla gardening products, retro craftworks, cupcakes and a lot more. Over 50 vendors will be there to feature their kitschy designs. The event, organized by Made in The Shade (www.wearemadeintheshade.com), offers shoppers an alternative to goods you may not find anywhere else on the High Street.

Not only will perusers get a chance to marvel at many of the handcrafted goodies, there'll also be crafting demonstrations, old time rock 'n' roll music, and free giveaways.

One of the amazing vendors will be Michelle Aaron of Covetables (www.covetables.co.uk), who makes handmade children's dresses, aprons, knitted dolls and animals, and stylish pincushions. Celebrity fashionista Lady Luck Rules OK (www.ladyluckrulesok.com) comes to Glasgow with her products that have sold all over the world.

It's not too early to start Christmas shopping and it's never the wrong time to buy yourself a little treat.

Made In The Shade Boutique Shopping Event
Saturday 26th September 2009
Gallery 5 and Vitra Suite
The Lighthouse, Mitchell Lane, G1 3NU
10.30am - 5pm
FREE ENTRY

If you're a parent who's a ballet fan and want to introduce your children to the arts without gritting your teeth through the performance, Angelina Ballerina's Big Audition may be the solution. The English National Ballet puts on a kiddie-friendly show that includes music by Tchaikovsky but based on the beloved tutu-wearing mouse.

The premise of the show is that Angelina Ballerina prepares to try out for a place in the prestigious performing arts school. As she gets ready to audition, she's both excited and anxious about leaving her friends in her old ballet class behind. However, she discovers she's bound to make fantastic new friends when she meets other dancers who not only can dazzle with classical pirouettes but wow Angelina with hip-hop beats and disco moves.

For two days only, Angelina Ballerina's Big Audition will be playing at Theatre Royal on August 11 and 12.

Angelina Ballerina's Big Audition
Tuesday 11th and Wednesday 12th August
Tue & Wed 2pm and 5pm
Tickets: £10 - £21 (Family - group of 4 max of 2 adults)
Box Office 08448 717 647 (Bkg fee)
www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow (Online bkg fee)